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Eh? and Hein?: Discourse Particles or National Icons?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2016

Elaine Gold
Affiliation:
University of Toronto/Queen’s University
Mireille Tremblay
Affiliation:
Queen’s University

Abstract

We compare the use and function of two discourse particles that show many similarities: Canadian English eh and Canadian French hein. Surveys of anglophone students at the University of Toronto and francophone students at Université Laval reveal that these particles have similar discourse functions and that there are many parallels in their patterns of use. However, francophone students report a higher use of hein than do anglophone students of eh. Moreover, francophones have more positive attitudes towards constructions with hein than do their anglophone counterparts with respect to eh. In addition, eh—used both less often and valued less positively—has taken on additional functions as an identity marker: it is used to identify speakers of Canadian English and, in print, to evoke Canadian solidarity. In contrast, hein does not have an identity marking function. We propose that the development of an identity marking function for eh—and the lack of such a function for hein—reflects differences in how linguistic identities are constructed in English and French Canada.

Résumé

Résumé

Nous comparons l’usage et la fonction de deux particules de discours qui présentent plusieurs similarités: le eh de l’anglais canadien et le hein du français canadien. Des sondages auprès d’étudiants anglophones à l’Université de Toronto et d’étudiants francophones à l’Université Laval révèlent que les fonctions discursives de ces particules sont similaires et qu’il y a plusieurs parallèles par rapport à leur usage. Cependant, les résultats indiquent que l’usage de hein par les étudiants francophones est plus élevé que ne l’est l’usage de eh par les étudiants anglophones. De plus, les francophones ont une perception plus positive envers les constructions avec hein que leur compères anglophones vis-à-vis eh. Enfin, eh—à la fois moins utilisé et moins valorisé—a acquis des fonctions additionnelles en tant que marque identitaire: eh est souvent utilisé pour identifier les locuteurs de l’anglais canadien, et dans les textes écrits, pour évoquer la solidarité canadienne. Par contre, hein ne fonctionne pas comme marqueur identitaire. Nous proposons que le développement d’une fonction identitaire pour eh—et l’absence d’une telle fonction pour hein—reflète des différences dans la construction de l’identité linguistique au Canada anglais et français.

Type
Linguistic Identity
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Linguistic Association 2006

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